EurekAlert! News by Subject: Biology - News by Subject: Biology

Biology

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 17-Aug-2025 10:11 ET (17-Aug-2025 14:11 GMT/UTC)

Threatened sea stars are finding refuge in bc fjords

Hakai Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study suggests that cold-water fjords on British Columbia’s Central Coast could be a marine refuge for threatened sunflower sea stars, which have been hit hard by sea star wasting disease. But recovery may require more than just cold seawater.

Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences

Brain-like AI promises game-changing advances in small drones

Texas A&M University

Researchers plan to develop flexible, neuron-like nano-devices to add energy-efficient artificial intelligence to energy-hungry applications such as battery-powered miniature drones.

Journal: Science Advances
Funder: Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Phytobiomes Journal publishes landmark focus issue on the phytovirome

American Phytopathological Society
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Phytobiomes Journal, published by The American Phytopathological Society, is pleased to announce the publication of its special Focus Issue on the Phytovirome, a critical exploration of the diversity, interactions, and impact of plant-associated viruses within phytobiomes.

Journal: Phytobiomes Journal

Low-dose opioids could help promote social behaviors for people with autism spectrum disorder

Hiroshima University

The same chemicals and receptors that control the sensation of pain in the opioid system also play a role in regulating social behavior. The body produces natural opioid substances which are drawn to receptors throughout the nervous system, sending signals through neurons that induce pain relief, pleasure, and more. Low-dose morphine and buprenorphine that attach to the mu (μ) opioid receptors (MORs) could help promote social interactions, which could help people with neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that affect social interactions.

Journal: JCI Insight
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Nakatomi Foundation, Astellas Foundation for Research on Metabolic Disorders, Mochida Memorial Foundation for Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development

Preserving and using the deep sea: scientists call for more knowledge to enable sustainable management

Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)
Reports and Proceedings

11 April 2025 / Brussels / Kiel. Led by Professor Dr Sylvia Sander of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, a group of internationally renowned marine scientists has published a Future Science Brief on deep-sea research. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of knowledge and offers recommendations for how both the exploration and management of the deep sea can be made more sustainable. The scientists issue a clear warning: without a thorough understanding of ecosystem processes and biodiversity, informed decisions on the sustainable use and protection of the deep sea are not possible. They are now calling for targeted research to close these knowledge gaps and ensure long-term preservation of the deep sea. The report is aimed at policymakers, researchers and international organisations and is being launched today [11. April, 2 PM (14:00) CET] in a dedicated online webinar.

There must be some otter way

Kyoto University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Kyoto, Japan -- The fuzzy and adorable otter has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years. These aquatic mammals are friendly, playful, and make cute cooing sounds, so their social media stardom seems only natural.

Sadly, this enthusiasm for otters has a dark side: they are targets for smuggling. In Japan, their popularity has raised demand for them as pets and as featured species at exotic animal cafés, making Japan one of the most prominent destinations for captive otters with ambiguous origins.

Asian small-clawed otters -- the species most common at Japanese zoos and cafés -- are native to South and Southeast Asia. They are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red list and their international trade for commercial purposes is prohibited. Yet they continue to be captured and smuggled into Japan, with Thailand as the main source of this illegal trade.

Journal: Conservation Science and Practice
Funder: Japan-ASEAN Science and Technology Innovation Platform

A*STAR IMCB celebrates 40 years of biomedical innovation and impact

Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
Business Announcement

SINGAPORE – 10 April 2025 – The A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (A*STAR IMCB), a pioneering biomedical research institute under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), marked its 40th anniversary today with a gala dinner graced by Guest-of-Honour Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. The celebration underscored the institute’s four decades of scientific breakthroughs and its continuing role in shaping Singapore’s biomedical innovation landscape.